Denver's police love everyone, except the Nuggets

@DenverPolice cold..

— Denver Nuggets (@denvernuggets) December 1, 2014

Poor Nuggets. The Denver Police Department Twitter account was having a little sports-based fun on Sunday night and completely overlooked the city's NBA team when sending out the love.

They apologized though, so all is forgiven -- maybe.

@DenverPolice: @denvernuggets - we blew that one. Not only LOVE our Nuggets, we congratulate you on the grt win against the Suns! GO NUGGS

— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) December 1, 2014

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://ift.tt/1y75Tgv

The Lakers won, so James Worthy is parading in circles

Can you blame him?

The Lakers are now 4-13 after beating the shorthanded Toronto Raptors in overtime at home, so now is as good a time as ever for three-time actual NBA champion James Worthy to parade around in circles, claim this win is the "first of many more" and suggest the team "played like champions tonight." There won't be many happy moments this season.

Later, this happened:

"Kobe Bryant, he's in the MVP category after tonight's game." - James Worthy, post game, making Tommy Heinsohn blush.

— Rich Levine (@rich_levine) December 1, 2014

Kobe had a 30/12/10 line ... but no.

(Via @TheNoLookPass).

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://ift.tt/1pEHFbJ

The awesome, unexpected, and meaningful of college football's Rivalry Week

Let's throw out the records and sort out college football's exciting Rivalry Week.

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2014/11/30/7309449/college-football-scores-alabama-auburn-florida-state-oregon-ole-miss

Fantasy football start/sit, Week 13: Josh Gordon

Josh Gordon is looking to repeat the success of his 2014 season debut. We take a look at what fantasy owners can expect for Week 13.

Josh Gordon is back. No more rumored pitch count. No more concerns about him being in game shape. Gordon returned in Week 12 with a whopping 16 targets. He caught half of them for 120 yards. Despite rumors of a limited snap count, Gordon was on the field for the majority of the offensive snaps Sunday.

Gordon will be 100 percent across the board as he looks to continue his successful return against the Buffalo Bills. Expect quarterback Brian Hoyer to look Gordon's way early and often.

Fantasy impact: Fantasy owners who scooped up Gordon earlier in the season saw their patience rewarded. While he didn't score, Gordon proved to be a huge asset both on the field and on fantasy rosters. He's clearly the team's most targeted player and arguably the most talented on the Browns' offense.

Just in time for the fantasy playoffs, Gordon owners can plug him in as a solid WR1 until he proves otherwise. He has incredible upside in PPR formats as well. Buffalo can be tough at home, but they have been average in limiting fantasy production to wide receivers. Gordon is simply an above-average talent who must be started.

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/fantasy/2014/11/30/7309399/josh-gordon-fantasy-football-sit-start-browns

Saints expected to move on from Rob Ryan after 2014

Sean Payton and Rob Ryan "strongly dislike each other" and the rift will likely end with a new defensive coordinator in New Orleans.

A rift between Sean Payton and Rob Ryan is expected to result in a hunt for a new defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints as the team will likely move on from Ryan.

According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, Payton and Ryan "strongly dislike each other" and the discord coupled with another year of poor performance by the Saints defense will result in a change on the defensive side of the ball. A new defensive coordinator would be the fifth in Payton's tenure with the Saints, and the fourth since the 2011 season.

Ryan joined the Saints in 2013 and was credited with turning around a New Orleans defense that finished the 2012 season as the NFL's worst and leading them to the fourth-fewest yardage allowed in 2013. However, those positive trends slowed and now the 4-7 Saints rank 27th in yards allowed.

The Saints have also had a few late-game collapses, as the team allowed two touchdowns in the final four minutes of a game against the Detroit Lions to lose 24-23, and allowed the San Francisco 49ers to drive in to field goal range with less than two minutes remaining to force overtime, which ended with a 27-24 victory for the 49ers.

In the last 11 seasons, Ryan has served as a defensive coordinator for four different teams and is known for his 3-4 defensive scheme which he implemented in New Orleans upon his arrival.

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/11/30/7309377/rob-ryan-new-orleans-saints-fired-sean-payton

Broncos vs. Chiefs 2014 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online

Denver and Kansas City meet on Sunday night in a contest that will shape the AFC West race.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos have been rivals for more than 50 years and once again the teams will play with plenty on the line. Kansas City plays host to Denver on Sunday night after falling victim to the upset of the year, losing to the previously 0-10 Oakland Raiders. With that loss, the Chiefs come into Sunday a game behind the Broncos in the AFC West standings.

Unfortunately for Kansas City, things more important than football have taken center stage this week. All-Pro safety Eric Berry was ruled out for the season with a mass in his chest, thought likely to be lymphoma. With their emotional leader out, the secondary will face an even more difficult challenge against Peyton Manning on national television.

Berry was out for five games earlier this season with a high ankle sprain, and Kansas City managed to go 4-1 with wins against the Patriots, Chargers, Dolphins and Rams. The Chiefs boast the best pass defense in the NFL, giving up a paltry 199 yards per game. Justin Houston has been a huge reason for Kansas City's success, leading the NFL with 13 sacks.

For the Broncos, they will likely try to run the ball early and often against a Chiefs defense that ranks last in the league with five yards allowed per attempt. Last week, Denver rushed 35 times, with third-string back C.J. Anderson piling up 167 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. Anderson will earn another start in Kansas City with Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman still recovering from injuries.

Of course, Manning will still be throwing frequently, testing a secondary which is yet to allow a 300-yard passer. Manning was 21-of-26 against the Chiefs during a 24-17 Week 2 victory, but was limited to only 242 yards. The matchup to watch will be Demaryius Thomas against Sean Smith on the outside. Smith is a large, physical corner who will attempt to bump-and-run all night in press coverage.

How to Watch

Where: Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City

When: 8:25 p.m. ET

TV: NBC

Announcers: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth

Radio: Chiefs Radio Network, Broncos Radio Network

Online streaming: Verizon NFL Mobile | NBC Sports

Odds

Kansas City and Denver share a line of EVEN, with the over/under set at 49.5, per OddsShark.

Further Reading

For more on the Broncos, head over to Mile High Report.

To keep up on the Chiefs, check out Arrowhead Pride.

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/11/30/7281157/chiefs-broncos-2014-online-streaming-time-tv-schedule

NFL injury report, Week 13: Arian Foster, Larry Fitzgerald aiming to play

In his weekly column, SB Nation Medical Expert Dr. Ali Mohamadi gives insight into the most notable injuries in the fantasy landscape and how they might affect your roster decisions for Week 13.

Arian Foster missed the past two games due to a groin injury suffered in Week 9, but it appears the Houston running back is on track to return to action when the Texans host Tennessee Sunday afternoon. Foster has participated in practice the entire week without setbacks, but be advised, groin strains are notoriously slow to heal and easy to aggravate if an athlete returns to action before completely healed. While things are looking good for Sunday, don't be surprised to see Alfred Blue continues to get a fair share of the carries out of the Houston backfield this afternoon.

Julius Thomas left early in Denver's Week 11 loss to St. Louis after suffering an ankle injury following a reception, and he missed last week's win over Miami as a result. Although x-rays and an MRI were negative for significant bone or ligament damage, and despite a week of rest, Thomas has been limited in practice all week and is listed as questionable for Sunday night's contest at Kansas City. The amount of swelling and pain Thomas experiences during warmups, and the extent to which range of motion of the ankle joint is limited, will determine whether he might suit up. That may leave fantasy owners in the air until the early evening regarding his status. In his absence, backup Jacob Tamme would likely see significant time at tight end.

Also missing action last week was Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald who suffered an MCL sprain of his left knee in Week 11 and was unable to suit up in the loss to Seattle. The Cardinals have classified the injury as a Grade 2 sprain, which typically requires 4-6 weeks of recovery. Fitzgerald has practiced this week, but it has only been on a limited basis. While it isn't unheard of that Fitzgerald could take the field against Atlanta, don't be surprised if he takes another game off, making John Brown and Michael Floyd likely to see more targets from Drew Stanton.

While it's never quite clear what the "questionable" label means on the New England Patriots' injury report, there is some concern that Shane Vereen may miss this week's showdown with Green Bay due to an ankle injury. Vereen apparently suffered the injury during last week's win over Detroit and has been limited in practice this week. It's unclear who would see the majority of carries for the Patriots if Vereen is unable to play; Jonas Gray spent last Sunday in the doghouse after having overslept a practice, and LeGarrette Blount didn't see a ton of carries but did log two scores against the Lions.

Atlanta receiver Roddy White has labored through an ankle injury for several weeks, but continues to put up strong numbers in the Falcons' passing attack. This week will be no different, as he is listed as questionable for the matchup with Arizona. That said, White has only done work on the side this week, missing all full practices, and so he will be a true game-time decision for the late afternoon contest. Keep an eye on his status as game-time approaches; the good news for Atlanta in case White isn't able to suit up is that Harry Douglas appears back to full strength following a foot injury.

Talented but injury-prone Washington tight end Jordan Reed has missed much of the season due to a hamstring strain first suffered in Week 1 and again in Week 11, causing him to miss last week's loss at San Francisco. Reed has practiced on a limited basis this week and seems close to a return, but he will be a game-time decision for this week's contest at Indianapolis.

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/11/30/7309339/nfl-injury-report-week-13-arian-foster-larry-fitzgerald

Marshawn Lynch weighing retirement after 2014 season, per report

The four-time Pro Bowl running back may retire after the 2014 season at the age of 28.

Marshawn Lynch's time with the Seattle Seahawks may be approaching its end as well as his time in the NFL. The four-time Pro Bowl running back is reportedly considering ending his football career after the 2014 season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Lynch reportedly considered retirement after the 2013 season but elected to come back to the team in 2014, albeit after a holdout in training camp and a bump in pay. With back pain accrued over eight seasons in the NFL, Lynch could elect to end his NFL career on his own terms at the age of 28.

One thing that could dissuade Lynch from ending his NFL career would be a head coaching job for Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable. According to Rapoport, the strong relationship between Lynch and the former Oakland Raiders head coach could cause the running back to follow Cable to a new team in 2015.

Still, Lynch may retire to avoid further damage to his back which has been the cause of some pain:

One issue for Lynch is health-related. He's missed just one game in the last four years, but he has battled back pain throughout. Thanks to countless hits over the course of his career, the cartilage in his spinal cord is compressed, which brings him discomfort. That's just one factor as he ponders his future.

Lynch is 39th all-time in rushing yards with 8,345 and 34th in career touchdowns with 67.

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/11/30/7309267/marshawn-lynch-seattle-seahawks-retire-free-agent

49ers could promote from within to replace Jim Harbaugh

Jim Tomsula and Vic Fangio are two possibilities to take over as head coach of the 49ers if the team parts ways with Jim Harbaugh.

The San Francisco 49ers are quickly approaching, what appears to be, an inevitable split with head coach Jim Harbaugh, and if that day comes, the team is likely to promote from within the organization to fill the void.

According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, the team believes that multiple coaches capable of taking over as head coach are already under contract with the team. The pair worth highlighting most are defensive line coach Jim Tomsula and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

The 49ers defense currently ranks third in the NFL in total yardage allowed and both coaches have been with the team for multiple seasons. Fangio joined the 49ers when Harbaugh did, following the coach from Stanford where he held the same position, while Tomsula first joined the 49ers in 2007 after a head coaching stint for the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe. Upon the firing of Mike Singletary in 2010, Tomsula served as the team's interim head coach for one game, as the 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 38-7.

If Harbaugh and the 49ers part ways, there is still the possibility that the team could hire from outside the organization and Adam Gase is the main candidate if that's the case. The former 49ers offensive assistant left to join the Denver Broncos in 2009 and is in his second season as the team's offensive coordinator.

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/11/30/7309171/jim-harbaugh-head-coach-san-francisco-49ers

Red Wings vs. Canucks: Time, TV schedule, preview and how to watch online

These aren't the Canucks that Detroit is used to beating.

The Monday after Thanksgiving is always one of the toughest days of the year. The NHL must know fans need some extra time to prepare to go back to work, because only one game is scheduled for Sunday afternoon.

The Detroit Red Wings host the Vancouver Canucks at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, a team they've owned in recent years. Detroit swept the season series last season and is 4-0-1 over the last few years against Canada's westernmost NHL team.

But this isn't the same inconsistent Canucks team we've come to know in recent seasons. Under Willie Desjardins' guidance this season, the Canucks are sitting pretty among the Western Conference's leaders and look like the dangerous squad that ran roughshod over the NHL in the last decade.

The Red Wings aren't exactly pushovers right now either. Detroit's offense has begun to click at a 3.5 goals per game pace as their power play has ignited. This one might come down to whether Jimmy Howard or Ryan Miller blinks first.

How to Watch

Where: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

When: 2 p.m. ET

TV: TVA, CITY (Canada) and Fox Sports Detroit

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2014/11/30/7308565/red-wings-vs-canucks-time-tv-schedule-preview-and-how-to-watch-online

Fantasy football advice, Week 13: Who to start/sit for Dolphins vs. Jets on Monday night

A host of exciting matchups in Week 13 culminates with something of a dud, Miami vs. New York.

All these great games in Week 13 -- Denver-Kansas City, New England-Green Bay, Seattle-San Francisco, even San Diego-Baltimore -- and we get stuck with the 6-5 Miami Dolphins against the 2-9 New York Jets on Monday night? Thanks a lot, schedule guys.

The Dolphins had quarterback Ryan Tannehill, running back Lamar Miller, wide receiver Mike Wallace and tight end Charles Clay on the week's injury report. Tannehill, Miller and Wallace all ought to be fine for Sunday, though Clay is more of a question mark as he deals with knee and hamstring issues. The Jets also have several fantasy players on the week's injury report. Running backs Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson and wide receiver Eric Decker are all expected to be fine for Monday night, while tight end Jace Amaro isn't likely to play as he deals with a concussion, and quarterback Michael Vick has already been benched.

The Jets host Monday's game at 8:30 p.m. ET. Let's look at the fantasy considerations:

DOLPHINS

Start 'em: Against a brutal pass defense, and playing really strong of late, Ryan Tannehill is a QB1 for Week 13. ... The Dolphins' defense is one of the league's top units, and the Jets don't have anything special on offense. That is the week's single best unit.

Start 'em?: All signs point to Lamar Miller being active Monday night, though against a strong run defense, he's only a strong flex play. ... Mike Wallace doesn't have a very high ceiling, but he has a reasonably high floor, and works as a decent flex play. ... Jarvis Landry has been strong of late, and looks like a mid-range flex play. ... Charles Clay 's case is curious. If he plays, he's a strong fantasy option against that defense, but he's no guarantee to play, and the game isn't until Monday night. How lucky do you feel? ... Caleb Sturgis had his least productive game of the season in Week 12, but overall, he has averaged almost nine points a game all season.

Sit 'em: With Wallace and Landry looking strong, Brian Hartline 's fantasy stock has faded.

JETS

Sit 'em: He's got the starting job back, but Geno Smith isn't anything like a fantasy option. ... The Jets moved to a Chris Ivory-heavy gameplan earlier in the season, but lately Chris Johnson has risen back up and made it a timeshare. Neither is a strong option; they are two super low-end flexes at best. ... Eric Decker is a better option than Percy Harvin , though you don't want to use either unless things have gotten really bad. ... With Jace Amaro out, the Jets will use Jeff Cumberland and Zach Sudfeld at tight end, and you are welcome to ignore them. ... Nick Folk is a good kicker on an offense that doesn't let him do that enough. ... The Jets' defense followed its best game of the season with its worst, and is a stay-away.

SUMMARY

Start in every league: Ryan Tannehill, Miami defense

Start if you're desperate: Lamar Miller, Mike Wallace, Jarvis Landry, Charles Clay, Caleb Sturgis

Bench: Brian Hartline, Geno Smith, Chris Ivory, Chris Johnson, Eric Decker, Percy Harvin, Jeff Cumberland, Zach Sudfeld, Nick Folk, New York defense

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/2014/11/30/7303259/fantasy-football-sit-start-advice-week-13-dolphins-vs-jets-lamar-miller-jarvis-landry-charles-clay

Broncos vs. Chiefs start/sit advice: Peyton Manning, Demaryius Thomas, Jamaal Charles

Sunday night features an AFC West showdown that could make the division much more interesting the rest of the way.

The Denver Broncos are 8-3, but are only a game clear of two of their division opponents, as the Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers are both 7-4 and breathing down the Broncos' necks. Denver will look to get some separation Sunday night as they try to finish a season sweep of the Chiefs.

The Broncos will again be without running backs Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman Sunday, while tight end Julius Thomas appears on track to play, though he's not likely to be full strength. The Chiefs, meanwhile, have no fantasy-relevant injuries, entering Sunday's game largely healthy.

The Chiefs will host Sunday's game at 8:30 p.m. ET. Let's look at the fantasy considerations:

BRONCOS

Start 'em: Of course, you're starting Peyton Manning but thanks for clicking on my story to confirm. ... C.J. Anderson has seized the Denver top RB job, and he might keep it even when the other guys are back and healthy. ... Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders might be the league's best one-two combination of receivers; they've both had double-digit fantasy performances in six straight games, and nine times each overall. ... Assuming Julius Thomas goes, he needs to be in all lineups. He only needs a couple of catches to be fantasy helpful.

Start 'em?: The Broncos added kicker Connor Barth over the week, dumping Brandon McManus. You're always wary of a guy in his first game, but kicking for a strong offense, Barth could be helpful.

Sit 'em: For now, all Juwan Thompson is is a change-of-pace guy for Anderson, and definitely not a fantasy option. ... Yeah, Wes Welker scored in Week 12, but he's still off the fantasy radar. ... The Broncos' defense is better in real football than it is in fantasy. Tread lightly.

CHIEFS

Start 'em: Since his injury, Jamaal Charles is averaging 18.8 fantasy points a game. That's crazy good. ... Few good players have been as frustrating as Travis Kelce has been in fantasy, but as rough as the position is, he's still a fantasy starter.

Start 'em?: You'd like more upside than Cairo Santos offers as a kicker, but he has at least five fantasy points in eight straight games and nine of 10.

Sit 'em: If you're digging deep, Alex Smith is mildly interesting, sure -- you always like a quarterback facing Denver -- but ultimately it's hard to imagine trusting him outside of a two-quarterback league. ... Knile Davis stumbles into the occasional touchdown behind Charles, but it's nowhere near consistent enough to consider him a fantasy option. ... The Chiefs' defense hasn't been very good and now faces Denver. Nope.

SUMMARY

Start in every league: Peyton Manning, C.J. Anderson, Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Julius Thomas, Jamaal Charles, Travis Kelce

Start if you're desperate: Connor Barth, Cairo Santos

Bench: Juwan Thompson, Wes Welker, Denver defense, Alex Smith, Knile Davis, Kansas City defense

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/2014/11/30/7303197/fantasy-football-sit-start-advice-week-13-broncos-vs-chiefs-travis-kelce-julius-thomas

Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 13: Patriots vs. Packers

Oh, this ought to be fun.

You'll have to wait until late afternoon Sunday, but Week 13's premier matchup might be one of the premier showdowns of the entire NFL season, as the 9-2 New England Patriots carry their seven-game winning streak into Green Bay to play the 8-3 Packers. The two teams are in first place in their respective divisions and own the two largest point differentials in the league.

The Patriots listed quarterback Tom Brady, running back Shane Vereen and wide receivers Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell on the week's injury report, though only Vereen and LaFell had noted injuries, and none of the four appears to be at any risk for Sunday. For the Packers, only wide receiver Davante Adams had any fantasy relevance from the injury report, as he was limited Thursday with a heel problem. Keep an eye on his status for Sunday.

The Packers, who have won their last two home games by a combined score of 108-34, host Sunday's game at 4:25 p.m. ET. Here's a look at the (many, many) fantasy options to consider:

PATRIOTS

Start 'em: Since Week 4, Tom Brady has averaged 23.7 fantasy points a game. He's been one of the best in the league. ... Rob Gronkowski is still either the No. 1 or No. 2 tight end in the game, and absent injury, that won't be changing. ... Stephen Gostkowski is so dang good.

Start 'em?: The only New England running back whose usage you can feel somewhat confident in is Shane Vereen, whose snaps remain high. He'll be on the field a lot, and at the least you can expect some quantity, if not quality. He's a flex play. ... Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell both appear pretty safe to offer a handful of fantasy points a game, while it's hard to expect either to give a lot more than that. They're high-floor, low-ceiling flex plays. ... Tim Wright needs a touchdown to have fantasy value, but he's been getting a lot of them. He's a high-end TE2 who might be your best option.

Sit 'em: The last two games, the Patriots' top running back has put up a combined 63 fantasy points. But that was Jonas Gray in Week 11 and LeGarrette Blount in Week 12, and consider Bill Belichick's ways, it's hard to know who to trust week to week. ... The Patriots' defense is good, but it's hard to imagine trusting any defense against that Green Bay offense at home.

PACKERS

Start 'em: Week 12's 19 fantasy points was Aaron Rodgers ' worst total since Week 5, and that was 18. He's been incredible for almost the whole season. ... In his last six games, Eddie Lacy 's fantasy production has been 4, 13, 17, 17, 22 and 25 fantasy points. He keeps getting better. ... They were both relatively quiet in Week 12, but Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb are still WR1's or close. ... In a game that definitely could be a shootout, Mason Crosby ought to get plenty of kicking action.

Start 'em?: If you're using one defense in this game, it's the Packers' defense, but the better bet is to avoid the lot.

Sit 'em: Even without his injury concern, Davante Adams is too far down the totem pole in Green Bay to be a viable fantasy option. ... Andrew Quarless ' usage has increased of late, but he's still not helpful for fantasy.

SUMMARY

Start in every league: Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Stephen Gostkowski, Aaron Rodgers, Eddie Lacy, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Mason Crosby

Start if you're desperate: Shane Vereen, Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, Tim Wright, Green Bay defense

Bench: Jonas Gray, LeGarrette Blount, New England defense, Davante Adams, Andrew Quarless

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/2014/11/30/7303105/fantasy-football-sit-start-advice-week-13-patriots-vs-packers-shane-vereen-tim-wright

Fantasy football advice, Week 13: Who to start/sit for Cardinals vs. Falcons

Would you believe this is technically a matchup of first-place teams?

A battle between first place teams! Arizona Cardinals! Atlanta Falcons! One 9-2, and the other -- 4-7? Really? Oh, well, Sunday afternoon's game between the two is indeed a fight between two first-place teams, even if that's mostly due to the vagaries of divisional arrangements.

The Cardinals listed quarterback Drew Stanton, running back Andre Ellington and wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown on the week's injury report. Only Fitzgerald is at any risk to miss Sunday, and even he has said he's pretty sure he'll play. On the Atlanta side, wide receiver Harry Douglas was limited in practice this week, but looks likely to play Sunday.

The Falcons will host Sunday's game at 4:05 p.m. ET. Let's look at it for fantasy:

CARDINALS

Start 'em: It's been a rough stretch of games for Andre Ellington, as his injuries and schedule have caught up with him. You'll still be using him against the porous Atlanta run defense, but this might be his last time as a sure starter all season. ... The Cardinals' defense has averaged 15 points a game in its last four, and needs to be started every week.

Start 'em?: The best Arizona pass-catching option at this point is John Brown, and it's not actually that close. Considering all the team's question marks, he's still just a low-end flex, though. ... Chandler Catanzaro has really fallen off from his early-season production, but in what looks like a nice matchup, he could rise again Sunday.

Sit 'em: Even against a bad defense, Drew Stanton is at best a low-end QB2. Look elsewhere. ... It's hard to imagine letting your playoff fate rest in the hands of Michael Floyd or a banged-up Larry Fitzgerald . ... John Carlson has had four or fewer fantasy points in 10 of 11 games this season; he's averaged 2.6 fantasy points a game.

FALCONS

Start 'em: Sunday was a good game for Julio Jones by normal wide receiver standards, but the fact that 12 fantasy points was his highest total since Week 3 is disheartening. Still, he's a WR2, as is teammate Roddy White .

Start 'em?: If you're up against it, Matt Bryant has been a fine kicker of late. Against Arizona's defense, he might struggle for opportunities, though.

Sit 'em: How can you run Matt Ryan out there? He's averaged 13.6 fantasy points a game since Week 4 with no game over 15; that's low-end QB2 territory. Stay away. ... Against a strong Arizona defense, Steven Jackson would be defensible as a flex play if it's desperate, but I'd prefer to just avoid him. ... Remember when I said Levine Toilolo would be a decent low-end fantasy option after a Week 1 touchdown? He's averaged 1.2 fantasy points a game since. Good times. ... Nope, not the Falcons' defense.

SUMMARY

Start in every league: Andre Ellington, Arizona defense, Julio Jones, Roddy White

Start if you're desperate: John Brown, Chandler Catanzaro, Matt Bryant

Bench: Drew Stanton, Michael Floyd, Larry Fitzgerald, John Carlson, Matt Ryan, Steven Jackson, Levine Toilolo, Atlanta defense

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/2014/11/30/7302983/fantasy-football-sit-start-advice-week-13-cardinals-vs-falcons-john-brown-roddy-white

Panthers vs. Vikings start/sit advice: Kelvin Benjamin and Cam Newton against Teddy Bridgewater

These are two bad teams, but one of them still has something to play for.

The Minnesota Vikings are 4-7 and playing out the string on the season. The Carolina Panthers are worse, at 3-7-1, but because of their division, are only a win and some help away from a playoff spot. Sunday, they look to get that win against the Vikings, who have lost two in a row.

The Panthers will likely get running back Mike Tolbert back from short-term injured reserve this week, muddying up that team's running situation even more. Meanwhile, the Vikings have almost all of their skill players listed on the report, including running backs Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata, wide receivers Cordarrelle Patterson, Greg Jennings and Jarius Wright, and tight ends Kyle Rudolph and Chase Ford. Only McKinnon and Patterson appear to be any kind of risks to miss Sunday's game.

The Vikings will host Sunday's game at 1 p.m. ET. Let's take a look at the fantasy options:

PANTHERS

Start 'em: In a year with so many strong rookie receivers, Kelvin Benjamin is right there, and is a strong WR2. ... With only 5.3 fantasy points a game in his last four, Greg Olsen has fallen behind the other elite tight ends, but he's still a definite must-start.

Start 'em?: If you've been running Cam Newton out there all year and are still in contention, congratulations. He's been very underwhelming. This week, he's a reasonable QB2, with the Vikings' struggles against the running game potentially helping Newton.

Sit 'em: The return of Mike Tolbert makes DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart even less fantasy-relevant. Feels like I've written variations on that sentence for decades now. ... Still waiting for the first strong fantasy day from Jerricho Cotchery this season. ... Graham Gano has had four or fewer fantasy points for three straight games. ... The Panthers' defense had 12 and 13 points in Weeks 1 and 2, respectively, and has 12 total since.

VIKINGS

Start 'em?: The Vikings give Blair Walsh enough opportunities that, in a home game, he's not a bad kicking option.

Sit 'em: There are signs of things to build on for Teddy Bridgewater in Minnesota, but there's no way to use him in fantasy right now. ... Between his injury, his lack of use, and his unexciting numbers, Jerick McKinnon is a non-starter right now, and Matt Asiata has far too much downside to use, either. Ben Tate might actually be the Vikings' best fantasy option at running back, but you don't know until you see how he is used. ... Charles Johnson has been Minnesota's best receiver of late, with Cordarrelle Patterson , Greg Jennings and Jarius Wright all dragging behind, but I wouldn't touch any of them. ... Kyle Rudolph is getting healthier, but he still has yet to put up a big fantasy game all season, even outside of his injury. ... The Vikings' defense had a decent two-game run about a month ago, but outside that it's been a bad unit all year.

SUMMARY

Start in every league: Kelvin Benjamin, Greg Olsen

Start if you're desperate: Cam Newton, Blair Walsh

Bench: Mike Tolbert, DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, Jerricho Cotchery, Graham Gano, Carolina defense, Teddy Bridgewater, Jerick McKinnon, Matt Asiata, Ben Tate, Charles Johnson, Cordarrelle Patterson, Greg Jennings, Jarius Wright, Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota defense

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/2014/11/30/7302835/fantasy-football-sit-start-advice-week-13-panthers-vs-vikings-cam-newton-charles-johnson

Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 13: Saints vs. Steelers

First place versus last place! 7-4 versus 4-7! Those two sentences don't match up, actually.

The NFL -- where the Pittsburgh Steelers can be 7-4 and tied for last place in their division, while the New Orleans Saints can be 4-7 and tied for first in theirs. You'd think the team tied for first would be a better bet in a Week 13 game than the one tied for last, but not here, as the Steelers will be the clear favorites against the Saints Sunday.

The Saints have every single one of their running backs on the week's injury report. Khiry Robinson is the one who might miss the game, though it's not yet 100 percent either way, while Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas and Travaris Cadet will likely all play. The Steelers had both wide receiver Martavis Bryant and tight end Heath Miller on the injury report, though neither is any kind of risk to miss.

The Steelers will host Sunday's game at 1 p.m. ET. Let's look at the fantasy considerations:

SAINTS

Start 'em: Fresh off his best fantasy game of the season in Week 12, Drew Brees now has a road game, so he's no guarantee to continue that, but he's still a must-start. ... If you have Mark Ingram, you're probably using him, though his numbers are tailing off and the team is getting its other running backs back. His stock is falling. ... Jimmy Graham is still elite, still Jimmy Graham, and still a must-start.

Start 'em?: Both Marques Colston and Kenny Stills had serviceable games in Week 12 with Brandin Cooks done for the year. If I'm choosing one, it's Stills, but both guys are reasonable low-end flex plays. ... You're probably starting Shayne Graham if you have him, but he's no sure thing, so feel free to look around.

Sit 'em: Active or no, you can't realistically use any of Khiry Robinson, Pierre Thomas and Travaris Cadet. They're just there to take touches away from Ingram. ... The Saints' defense is really bad.

STEELERS

Start 'em: Against that run defense, Le'Veon Bell becomes the single-best fantasy option this week. ... Antonio Brown is still an easy WR1.

Start 'em?: The group of quarterbacks ranked between, say, seventh and 15th, are all pretty interchangeable. Personally, I have Ben Roethlisberger ranked as a QB2, but you might disagree. ... The down game for Martavis Bryant last time out was the single-most predictable thing to happen in fantasy this season; no one could continue his hot stretch. He's a low-end flex. ... Shaun Suisham has been intermittently good this season, but has yet to put up back-to-back double-digit scores. ... The Saints' offense isn't as vaunted as it once was, but it's still good, which could hurt the upside of the Steelers' defense.

Sit 'em: There just has to be a better tight end option out there for you than Heath Miller, who is more likely to put up one fantasy point than anything else.

SUMMARY

Start in every league: Drew Brees, Mark Ingram, Jimmy Graham, Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown

Start if you're desperate: Marques Colston, Kenny Stills, Shayne Graham, Ben Roethlisberger, Martavis Bryant, Shaun Suisham, Pittsburgh defense

Bench: Khiry Robinson, Pierre Thomas, Travaris Cadet, New Orleans defense, Heath Miller

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/2014/11/30/7302649/fantasy-football-sit-start-advice-week-13-saints-vs-steelers-kenny-stills-marques-colston

Fantasy football advice, Week 13: Who to start/sit for Raiders vs. Rams

Both teams are in last, but one of them still looks far better than the other.

Not all last-place teams are created equal. The Oakland Raiders are in last in the AFC West, are 1-10, and just won their first game of the season. They deserve to be in last. The St. Louis Rams, meanwhile, are 4-6, and just completed a 3-3 stretch against Seattle, Kansas City, San Francisco, Arizona, Denver and San Diego. That's a strong run of a schedule, and despite sitting at 4-7, the Rams have shown more than that. So Sunday's game between these teams is more than just a "last-off."

The Raiders are waiting for running back Latavius Murray to get clearance from the concussion he suffered in Week 12, though he's practiced enough this week that it appears likely he'll play. For the Rams, both wide receiver Kenny Britt and tight end Jared Cook are on the week's injury report with back problems, though both are expected to play.

The Rams will host Sunday's game at 1 p.m. ET. Let's look at the fantasy considerations, slim though they may be:

RAIDERS

Start 'em?: Assuming he's cleared, which seems likely, Latavius Murray will be popular this week, but tread lightly, as we haven't exactly seen a wealth of strong performances out of him. ... You don't want to be stuck using an Oakland receiver, but if you are, the one to use is definitely James Jones . ... Sebastian Janikowski has been performing well over the last several games -- he's averaged almost eight points a game since Week 6.

Sit 'em: It's been a rough stretch for Derek Carr , who has only nine fantasy points a game over his last four, and only 9.5 in his last six. ... Murray or no, Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew are off the fantasy radar. ... Andre Holmes hot stretch of games is only a memory now, and the same is true for Mychal Rivera . ... The Raiders' defense is pretty bad.

RAMS

Start 'em: Hey, this game does have one decent fantasy option. Tre Mason has seized the top job in St. Louis, and he'll be a reasonable RB2. ... The Rams' defense more than held its own against some really strong teams; against Oakland, it should do very well.

Sit 'em: Two games for Shaun Hill since reclaiming the starting job, and 17 total fantasy points. Nope, that won't play. ... Benny Cunningham is playing almost as many snaps as Mason, and while he's not as productive, playing time is playing time. Meanwhile, Zac Stacy is not getting playing time at all. ... Kenny Britt had a good game, then Stedman Bailey had one. Before that, it was Jared Cook. But none of them is fantasy-helpful. ... We've seen more bad games than good out of Greg Zuerlein . Even playing at home isn't a help.

SUMMARY

Start in every league: Tre Mason, St. Louis defense

Start if you're desperate: Latavius Murray, James Jones, Sebastian Janikowski

Bench: Derek Carr, Darren McFadden, Maurice Jones-Drew, Andre Holmes, Mychal Rivera, Oakland defense, Shaun Hill, Benny Cunningham, Zac Stacy, Kenny Britt, Stedman Bailey, Jared Cook, Greg Zuerlein

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/2014/11/30/7302465/fantasy-football-sit-start-advice-week-13-raiders-vs-rams-latavius-murray-james-jones

Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 13: Roddy White

Roddy White is starting to get it going for his fantasy owners. Will that continue in Week 13?

Atlanta Falcons receiver Roddy White has been much better in his last few weeks with averages of 81 receiving yards and 0.7 TDs. He'll take that momentum into a Week 13 game against the Arizona Cardinals.

Earlier this season, the Cardinals were blitzing constantly and it led to some huge games out of receivers. They gave up multiple-TD games to receivers in three of the four games from Week 5 to Week 8, but they have allowed just one TD to receivers since that bad run. It looks like the safeties and corners have played a little softer which has kept the big plays to a minimum. In fact, they have kept receivers to just 75.3 yards per game to receivers in the last four games.

Fantasy impact: Bad matchup aside, Roddy is at home and he should have a lot of chances to catch passes. The Falcons will be one dimension in a big way. He's a solid WR2.

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/fantasy/2014/11/30/7306699/fantasy-football-start-sit-advice-week-13-roddy-white

Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 13: C.J. Anderson

C.J. Anderson went off in Week 12. Will he do it again for his fantasy owners?

The Denver Broncos have been a waiver wire hot bed in the fantasy running back world. First, it was Ronnie Hillman busting out as an RB1 while he was starting and now it's C.J. Anderson's turn.

Hillman is not close to a return while Montee Ball is not ready to go either. That means it should be the Anderson show again vs. the Kansas City Chiefs. While the Chiefs have actually been an unbelievably tough nut to crack and just allowed their first TD to a running back last week, the Broncos are just too good on offense.

Anderson and the Broncos had some success against them in Week 2 and they should be able to at least score in the 20s in the divisional matchup.

Fantasy impact: There is really no way Anderson should be on your bench this week. He's coming off two huge games and he'll find a way to get you big fantasy points.

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/fantasy/2014/11/30/7306693/fantasy-football-start-sit-advice-week-13-c-j-anderson

Bengals vs. Buccaneers start/sit advice: A.J. Green, Giovani Bernard, Mike Evans, Josh McCown

These two teams were both considered done for, but theoretically both could still make the playoffs. Weird season.

The Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have both been left for dead this season. For Tampa Bay, the team is 2-9, and being left for dead might be smart. However, the team is still only two games out of first place in the NFC South, and with that division, who knows how that will go. Meanwhile, the Bengals looked dead in the water after a 24-3 beatdown at the hands of the Cleveland Browns in Week 10, but two straight wins have the team back at 7-3-1 and in first place in the AFC North.

Both teams enter their Sunday matchup basically healthy from a fantasy perspective. Bengals wide receiver Mohamed Sanu and Buccaneers running back Charles Sims and tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins were all on the week's injury report, though all three should be fine for Sunday's game.

Tampa Bay will play host Sunday, with the game scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. Now for a look at the fantasy considerations:

BENGALS

Start 'em: We've seen more than enough out of A.J. Green since his injury return to put him in every lineup, every week.

Start 'em?: If you have Jeremy Hill , you're probably using him. The same applies for Giovani Bernard . But with the confusing usage of the two running backs, it's tough to say for sure who would be the better play, and even who will be productive at all. ... If you're digging deep, Mohamed Sanu does face a bad pass defense, and is coming off a 10-point game. He could be a low-end option. ... Mike Nugent is one of those kickers who will probably get you six to nine fantasy points, but rarely anything above that. There are a lot of those this year.

Sit 'em: After Andy Dalton 's worst game of the season, he had his best. And after his best, he had a big "meh" game. In general, "meh" is what to expect out of Dalton this year, so even in a really nice-looking matchup, it's hard to use him. ... Jermaine Gresham hasn't done much of anything this season. Even his two-touchdown game offered little else. ... The Bengals' defense had 27 fantasy points through Week 3, and has 18 in eight games since.

BUCCANEERS

Start 'em: This crazy level of production from Mike Evans obviously won't continue -- he's great, but not best-in-the-game great -- but as long as he's performing, he needs to be in all lineups.

Start 'em?: In five complete games played this year, Josh McCown has averaged 16 fantasy points a game. That's not great, but it's serviceable if you're in a bind. ... Vincent Jackson is due for a big game soon, and you might be able to capitalize on it. ... The Buccaneers' defense has improved of late -- 2.1 points a game through seven, 9.0 since -- but you'd have to be pretty needy to dive this far.

Sit 'em: I'm sure one of the Tampa Bay running back trio of Charles Sims, Doug Martin and Bobby Rainey will have a serviceable game. Maybe. But I have no idea which, and I don't particularly care -- none of the three is worth the heartache. ... I have no idea how you can trust Austin Seferian-Jenkins, and that's even without considering his injury. ... Patrick Murray has had more bad games than good this year.

SUMMARY

Start in every league: A.J. Green, Mike Evans

Start if you're desperate: Jeremy Hill, Giovani Bernard, Mohamed Sanu, Mike Nugent, Josh McCown, Vincent Jackson, Tampa Bay defense

Bench: Andy Dalton, Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati defense, Charles Sims, Doug Martin, Bobby Rainey, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Patrick Murray

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/2014/11/30/7302325/fantasy-football-sit-start-advice-week-13-bengals-vs-buccaneers-jeremy-hill-giovani-bernard

Fantasy football advice, Week 13: Who to start/sit for Washington vs. Colts

Not only did Washington make a weird quarterback choice, it robbed us of Griffin vs. Luck.

In theory, Sunday's game between the Indianapolis Colts and Washington should have been a fun storyline of Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, the first- and second-overall picks in their draft, facing off for the first time as pros. But then Griffin had to struggle, and then Washington had to go and bench Griffin. In the end, it's just another game of a good team against a bad one.

Washington expects to get tight end Jordan Reed back from a hamstring injury Sunday, though that's not yet a sure thing, and Reed is always at risk to get re-injured. For the Colts, tight end Dwayne Allen will miss his second straight game with an ankle injury.

The Colts will host Sunday's game, scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. Let's look at the fantasy considerations:

WASHINGTON

Start 'em: The only moderately consistent and good fantasy option Washington has is running back Alfred Morris who needs to be started every week, and especially against the Indianapolis run defense.

Start 'em?: We're about due for one of those fantasy-game-winning weeks from DeSean Jackson that he puts up every now and then, but with his quiet performance of late he's hard to trust. ... Kai Forbath has had five strong kicking games in his last six. He's usable.

Sit 'em: There isn't a single quarterback on Washington's roster worth a fantasy look. Right now, the starting job is Colt McCoy 's, but who cares? ... Pierre Garcon is off the fantasy radar right now. ... With Jordan Reed back, Niles Paul is back to forgettable, and Reed's constant injury concerns make him impossible to trust. ... The Washington defense is bad.

COLTS

Start 'em: Yeah, no reason to bench Andrew Luck, even after his worst game of the season. Washington is very generous to opposing quarterbacks. ... T.Y. Hilton keeps proving he's a super-elite receiver. ... What Adam Vinatieri is doing as the oldest player in the league, kicker or otherwise, is amazing.

Start 'em?: With Dwayne Allen out for Sunday, Coby Fleener is once again an interesting fantasy option, though he did absolutely nothing with the opportunity a week ago. ... The Colts' defense has had more than its share of ups and downs; against a Colt McCoy-led offense, this could be an up.

Sit 'em: It's hard to imagine being forced to use an Indianapolis running back. If you are, it's Dan Herron over Trent Richardson , but the best bet is to just stay away. ... Everyone watching Reggie Wayne thinks he's lost a step. Had to happen eventually.

SUMMARY

Start in every league: Alfred Morris, Andrew Luck, T.Y. Hilton, Adam Vinatieri

Start if you're desperate: DeSean Jackson, Kai Forbath, Coby Fleener, Indianapolis defense

Bench: Colt McCoy, Pierre Garcon, Jordan Reed, Niles Paul, Washington defense, Dan Herron, Trent Richardson, Reggie Wayne

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/2014/11/30/7302127/fantasy-football-sit-start-advice-week-13-washington-vs-colts-desean-jackson-coby-fleener

FanDuel lineup tips and advice, Week 13: Underpriced options for Sunday, Monday

Click here to use FanDuel promo code SBNATION9, get 100% deposit bonus

After Thursday's classic combination of overindulgence and narrative rejuvenating-I'm sure your dad reminded you early and often that TONY ROMO ALWAYS CHOKES-we look toward this Sunday for the next round of our FanDuel experiment. Today, we'll highlight four players that vary from slightly underpriced to incredibly, inexplicably cheap for their expected production.

QB - Eli Manning, $7200

There is a fish, popular mainly in Japan, that can only be eaten through the most intricate and careful of preparations. If prepared incorrectly, the poor sap stuck eating it will die from poisoning. Eli Manning is that fish, mouth agape and useful only in the most delicately prepared situations. This week, he faces a Jaguars defense that, while definitely improved and better than expected, still struggles to contain the pass. Cheaper than Michael Vick or Kyle Orton, Eli is cheap and poised for a solid outing.

RB - Rashad Jennings, $7100

Finally healthy and back to his usual production, Rashad Jennings enjoys a rarefied workload. He had 27 touches in last week's bout against Dallas, turning that opportunity into 16 fantasy points. Acting as Eli's check-down security blanket and goal-line back (excluding one inexcusable series where the Giants force-fed Andre Williams), Jennings offers a high floor and high upside for a cheaper price. I would much rather trot out Jennings at $7100 than players like Gio Bernard and Jeremy Hill (hamstrung by a committee), an ailing Andre Ellington, or, for only $100 cheaper, LeGarrette Blount.

WR - Josh Gordon, $8100

Admittedly not the cheapest option, but I feel like we have one more week of undervaluing Gordon before everyone remembers the ungodly beasting of 2013. In his first game back, Gordon saw an unreal 16 targets from Brian Hoyer, many of which were lame-duck prayers hoping for a savior. Given his natural ability and sheer volume of touches, Gordon should be trotted out as a pricey WR2 or a cheaper WR1, with this week's salary under the likes of Mike Evans, T.Y. Hilton, or the duo of Packers studs facing an elite New England secondary.

DEF - Miami, $4900

The easiest, most promising pick of the week. For anyone blessed with missing the Jets on offense this year, I can summarize the fun by linking you to any Breaking Madden article. They are the CPU on Amateur with all the sliders out of wack, a decent run game that refuses to run and a passing game that refuses to employ any of their weapons. With Geno Smith returning this week-his last start, mind you, ended in the first quarter after going 2/8 for 5 yards and three interceptions-I'd recommend any defense playing him. However, the Dolphins have a legitimately solid defense! They are a decent play regardless of matchup, and they now have arguably the worst offense in the league during a primetime matchup. At $600 cheaper than the top DEF this week, start Miami with confidence and enjoy the turnover buffet.

With these four picks, you're afforded a ton of flexibility for the reminder of your lineup. Enjoy the games, and, please, join me on Monday for the annual New York Jets primetime bloodbath.

Sign up for FanDuel today and get 100% deposit bonus

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/2014/11/30/7301689/fanduel-lineup-advice-tips-fantasy-football-week-13

Chargers vs. Ravens start/sit advice: Philip Rivers takes San Diego to Baltimore and Joe Flacco

The NFL in 2014 is all about good-but-not-great teams. Here are two more!

Both the San Diego Chargers and Baltimore Ravens sit at 7-4. Both teams have won two in a row to end losing streaks that threatened to derail their seasons. Both are tied for second place in their divisions, and both need every win possible to stay in contention for a playoff spot. And finally, both play one another Sunday.

The Chargers have running back Ryan Mathews on the week's injury report with a shoulder injury, though he's expected to be fine for the game. The Ravens, meanwhile, come into the game basically healthy from a fantasy perspective -- in fact, Baltimore is probably the league's single-healthiest team all -around right now.

Baltimore will host Sunday's game at 1 p.m. ET. With both teams needing a win to stay near the top of the playoff race, let's look at the fantasy considerations:

CHARGERS

Start 'em: Even off a strong of disappointing games, there just aren't enough productive tight ends to render Antonio Gates a non-starter.

Start 'em?: It's been a rough stretch of production for Philip Rivers , who hasn't had more than 13 fantasy points in any of his last three games and hasn't reached 20-plus since Week 6. He's a mid-range QB2 now. ... In a neutral matchup, Ryan Mathews would be a surefire starter, but the Ravens have the league's best run defense, so Mathews is more of a flex play at best this week. ... Keenan Allen and Malcom Floyd keep yo-yoing as the team's best fantasy receiver. Neither is a strong start, but both could be flex plays if things are desperate. ... Nick Novak is a relevant kicker, right on the fringes of every-week startability. ... The Chargers' defense doesn't look as good as it did early in the season, but it's still worth a start if you're outside the top units.

Sit 'em: The return of Mathews renders Branden Oliver a fantasy afterthought. ... Eddie Royal has had his patented hot-start-quick-decline again this year, and he's off the radar.

RAVENS

Start 'em: We've seen more than enough out of Justin Forsett to believe him as a top-flight running back the rest of the way. ... Justin Tucker remains one of the better kicking options.

Start 'em?: The Smiths -- Torrey Smith and Steve Smith Sr. -- are reasonable flex plays, though neither is very strong, since they battle one another for touches. ... The only thing keeping Owen Daniels in fantasy consideration is the fact that tight end is such a barren position. You might be stuck using him. ... The recent struggles of the San Diego offense mean that the Ravens' defense is a totally defensible fantasy start.

Sit 'em: Out of 11 games this season, there have been exactly two where Joe Flacco was a strong and helpful fantasy option, and the last one was Week 6. Stay away. ... Neither Bernard Pierce nor Lorenzo Taliaferro is getting enough play to be anywhere near a fantasy lineup.

SUMMARY

Start in every league: Antonio Gates, Justin Forsett, Justin Tucker

Start if you're desperate: Philip Rivers, Ryan Mathews, Keenan Allen, Malcom Floyd, Nick Novak, San Diego defense, Torrey Smith, Steve Smith Sr., Owen Daniels, Baltimore defense

Bench: Branden Oliver, Eddie Royal, Joe Flacco, Bernard Pierce, Lorenzo Taliaferro

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/2014/11/30/7302035/fantasy-football-sit-start-advice-week-13-chargers-vs-ravens-ryan-mathews-torrey-smith

The Fantasy War Room is LIVE!

The SB Nation Fantasy War Room is live until 1 p.m. ET. Trying to figure out your last minute lineup decisions? Have thoughts on a trade or a waiver pick-up? We're here for you!

Welcome back to the War Room! This marks the third season of a chat room that offers you the most extensive fantasy football advice on the Internet. In 2012, SB Nation created a live chat called the Fantasy War Room, in order to help you better prepare for your fantasy football drafts and weekly lineup decisions. Unlike other chats that are for an hour or two on game day, the Fantasy War Room is live several hours a day, for virtually the entire season.

The War Room was launched in order to help people in this era of the 24-hour news cycle. A Top 200 ranking is helpful, but even waiting a couple days to update it can leave a fantasy football player hopelessly out of date. The War Room will be able to provide you answers on the latest breaking news, and how it impacts your fantasy draft board.

We'll be live today from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET. For the rest of the season we will be live Monday through Thursday 4-8:30 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you have questions when we are not around, feel free to hit us up at @sbnationfantasy.

If this is your first time commenting at SB Nation, you have two quick options to register:

1. On the top right side of the page, you'll see Log In and Sign Up. Click on Sign Up.

2. Scroll to the bottom of the page. You'll see an option that says "Something to say? Choose one of these options to log in."

How To Post

Go down to the comments section below and post the question in the subject line. In the message portion, include a quick rundown of pertinent facts about your league and team. Leagues and teams vary, so include any pertinent details about your roster and your league's scoring system.

All official SB Nation answers will come from the user SB Nation Fantasy. For today, that account will be run by John Daigle from 8-10 a.m., and Brian Pollak from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/fantasy/2014/11/30/7308057/fantasy-football-draft-strategy-advice-rankings-live-chat

Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 13: Eli Manning

Eli Manning has Odell Beckham Jr., but is that enough for Eli's fantasy owners?

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning has been on a roller-coaster ride all season. He is coming off a big game against the Dallas Cowboys thanks to Odell Beckham Jr. basically breaking the internet with his insane catch.

This week, the Giants get another great matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars were getting beaten badly in the passing game earlier this season, but they've started to put a few respectable games together. They actually held Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck to just one passing TD and they've only allowed eight passing TDs in their last seven games.

Eli is also going to be on the road and he's had some really bad showings in those game. Manning and the Giants will likely run a little more because the Jaguars are just brutal on offense.

Fantasy impact: There is not much upside here for Manning despite the solid matchup on the surface. He's more of a QB13-15 in most formats.

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/fantasy/2014/11/30/7306669/fantasy-football-start-sit-advice-week-13-eli-manning

Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 13: Cam Newton

Cam Newton has been a disappointment so far this season. Can he turn it around for his fantasy owners in Week 13?

Quarterback Cam Newton was in the top five for fantasy quarterbacks in every season up until this year. If that's going to continue, he has his work cut out for himself.

Newton is just the 19th-best quarterback on the season and only has one big game on the year. He is coming off his second-best game of the season against the Atlanta Falcons with 292 passing yards and two passing TDs, but that was one of the best matchups of any team

This week, he'll get a date with the Minnesota Vikings, who rank as the 10th-toughest matchup against fantasy quarterbacks. They actually held Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers in check last week and have only allowed one 300-yard game to QBs all season.

Fantasy impact: It's tough to count Newton out, but his owners shouldn't be expecting big numbers this week. He's more of a QB10-14 this week and is a bench candidate if your backup has a good matchup.

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/fantasy/2014/11/30/7306679/fantasy-football-start-sit-advice-week-13-cam-newton

Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 13: Isaiah Crowell

Isaiah Crowell lit it up for his savvy fantasy owners last week. Should they ride him again?

Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell was a star of Week 12. He hit pay dirt two times against the Atlanta Falcons on his way to 88 rushing yards on just 12 carries. He was an undrafted free agent and has been the Browns' best back all season.

Last week was one of the best matchups possible, but this week it'll be a little different against the Buffalo Bills. The Bills have been the third-toughest matchup to fantasy running backs and have allowed TDs to backs in just two games this season.

Plus, the Browns are still likely going to give Terrance West some touches this week in the road game while quarterback Brian Hoyer probably won't be able to move the ball. In other words, there is not much of a chance for Crowell to score this week.

Fantasy impact: Crowell should be on benches this week as a low-end flex. There just isn't enough upside here.

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://www.sbnation.com/fantasy/2014/11/30/7306687/fantasy-football-start-sit-advice-week-13-isaiah-crowell